In some fanfictions, Naruto wins the war through a prophecy. It was foretold that he would be the one to end the war, and so he is given special powers or artifacts that help him achieve victory. These powers could be something like the ability to control time briefly during battles or to summon ancient and extremely powerful creatures that tip the scales in his favor.
Maybe Naruto discovers a hidden scroll that has a spell or technique specifically for dealing with paperwork. He then uses this new - found knowledge to make all the paperwork disappear or transform into something more manageable, like a single small scroll that contains all the important information in a condensed form.
One interesting way is when Naruto absorbs chakra through his shadow clones. In some fanfictions, the clones can be used not just to gather information or attack, but also to absorb the chakra of the opponents they interact with. Then, they transfer this absorbed chakra back to Naruto, making him more powerful.
The most interesting plots can vary. There are those that focus on the relationships between characters during the war. For instance, a fanfiction might explore the friendship between two characters who are on opposite sides. They have to make difficult choices between loyalty to their village and their friendship. Another plot could be about a prophecy that no one fully understands until the middle of the war. This prophecy ends up guiding the actions of some characters. Also, some fanfictions play with the idea of alternate dimensions opening during the war, bringing in new threats and allies from different realms.
The clash of different universes. Naruto's world is full of ninjas, chakra, and unique jutsus, while Gears of War has a post - apocalyptic, military - focused setting with high - tech weapons. When combined, it creates a really cool contrast. For example, seeing Naruto's speed and agility against the heavily armored Gears of War soldiers.
Another way Naruto can evolve in fanfiction is through psychological growth. He could experience events that make him question his beliefs and values. As he goes through this internal struggle and comes out the other side, his mindset changes. This new mindset then affects how he uses his powers, making him a more evolved and complex character.
Some fanfictions have Naruto absorb chakra from natural disasters. For instance, he can draw chakra from a lightning storm or a volcanic eruption. This is really creative as it ties his power to the forces of nature.
In some fanfictions, Naruto might use the power of the tailed beasts. Since he has a bond with all of them, they could combine their chakra in a way that creates a life - restoring energy. This energy could then be used to revive Jiraiya. Or perhaps Naruto, after achieving a new level of sage mode, discovers that he can access a spiritual realm where the dead reside. He battles the forces there and brings Jiraiya back. Also, there could be a situation where the memories and wills of all those Jiraiya has influenced come together and manifest as a power that Naruto uses to revive him.
The combination of powers is also great. For instance, Naruto's Rasengan in the hands of a Gears of War character, or a Gears of War weapon being used by Naruto. It changes the way battles are fought and strategies are formed. There are also often plotlines about how Naruto's ideology of never giving up and friendship could influence the more cynical and war - torn world of Gears of War.
In the 'kronos wins the war fanfiction', it might be that Kronos discovers a powerful weapon or magic. This newfound power allows him to overpower his enemies one by one. He could also be very cunning in manipulating the internal conflicts of his opponents, which in the end helps him win the war.
In 'loki wins the war fanfiction', a frequent theme is Loki's self - discovery. As he battles through the war, he learns more about his own capabilities and his place in the universe. Also, the theme of subverting expectations is common. Everyone expects Loki to lose or cause chaos in a negative way, but in these fics, he uses chaos to his advantage and wins. Another theme could be his complex relationships with other characters being reforged through his victory.